A survey of the process and equipment
Peter W Muncaster
Of all the welding processes tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is one of the most versatile. Since its inception it has been improved and refined in terms of equipment, consumables and application and is capable of still further improvements.
The author intends this to be a practical book on TIG containing advice on such items as power sources, ancillary components, torches, gases, electrodes, jigs, fixtures and heat sinks, etc. In short, an extensive guide to its use. The book sets out to explain in clear language the various processes, equipment and associated terminology without reaching into the worlds of advanced electronics or metallurgy.
The author has been for many years at the sharp end of TIG application in industry and has endeavored in the pages that follow to pass on as much as possible of the knowledge accumulated during that time. Some of the information provided may be obvious to experienced welders. However it is hoped that even for experts some useful extra knowledge will be gained from reading the book which in most cases gives the author’s considered opinions on the subject; not necessarily in agreement with other peoples’ views.
Certain passages in this book have been quoted almost verbatim from literature supplied by some of the companies listed. This is not for any reason other than that the passages quoted are definitive and could not significantly be improved to any great extent, as the basic TIG welding principles still apply. Also some extra tabulated information has been included, as such data can often be difficult to find for someone not totally involved in a particular industry, e.g. pipeline welding and pipe sizes